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Electrical Storm
May. 6th, 2023 03:26 pmOur electricity blew in the early hours of Sunday morning. We managed to get an electrician we know personally to come out that morning and take a look. It turned out something called the CMB was melted and the whole consumer unit needed replacing. Our electrician put us on to someone he knew who could order and install a new one, but being Bank Holiday weekend things weren’t looking optimistic about how soon he’d get to us.
An aunt of mine and a neighbour both agreed to keep some of our cold food in freezer storage; we used the fridge in my workplace to keep some more. We dug out a battery operated radio for entertainment, and some torches to find our way around at night time.
So Sunday afternoon was a good time to get out of the house and head for AFC Portchester Ladies’ away game at QK Southampton. Lewis and Matt came along to this one and we put the Arancione flags up behind the goal. Lewis was delighted with my return to the Arancione fold. I’d been thinking during my enforced lay-off the previous weekend with excruciating gout, and decided that Portchy was the place for me, with the camaraderie, singing and dancing of the fan group. Mark was made up to see me, and Stacy came over to the perimeter fence during a lull in the pre-match warm-up for a hug. Lewis and Matt hadn’t been to the ground before and were very impressed with the shipping container converted into a bar, where a friendly guy sold Peroni beer, soft drinks, crisps and chocolate. We all sang and shouted the girls on and they won 4-1 to keep up their challenge for the league title.
Tuesday went up to Horndean to see the Portchester men in the Portsmouth Cup semi-final. The food menu at the tea hut was excellent, my Southern Fried chicken in a brioche bun and, at half time, Footlong hot dog were first class.
Lewis and Matt didn’t make this one but I found a group of Portchy fans who knew me in the front row of the little stand. We were hoping the lads would get a measure of revenge on Horndean, who’d staged a late season surge to snatch the Wessex League title while Portchy, who’d been top of the league all season, had suffered an end of season collapse and ended up fourth. Across the course of the match we picked the bones of the campaign just finished and speculated on what would happen for next season. One of the chaps kept up a stream of exchanging banter with a kid in a Horndean shirt. Portchy, alas, failed to convert their chances while Horndean netted a goal in each half. We glumly mused on how we might pass the summer - one of the guys is a member at Hampshire County Cricket Club - and said “see you in July”. For me there was then the half hour wait for the bus back to Portsmouth.
Wednesday I returned to the Wicor for the first time since New Year. AFC Portchester Ladies were facing Bournemouth Sports Ladies, in a six-pointer in the race for the title. Word went round the ground that we’d apparently had it confirmed that we’d be getting the three points from a match last month that wasn’t played because the opposition were unable to raise a team. If that were the case, that would mean a win against Bournemouth that evening would confirm Portchester as league champions.
Lewis and Matt showed up for this one and put the flags up pitchside. I stood with them and we were joined by Tony, the men’s team kit man. In between us singing songs and shouting encouragement to the girls, we all talked about goings-on at the club and plans for next season. We speculated on why AFC Portchester are disliked by so many people at other clubs in the Wessex League; we thought likely reasons were that we’re seen as big spenders (though there are other teams in the league with budgets as big); people in charge of the club have openly announced we have ambitions to progress to a higher level; and possibly prejudice against people from the Portsmouth area by those at clubs located in areas that traditionally affiliate with Southampton FC. Such abstract thoughts were dispelled by a magnificent display from the girls, who took an early lead through Aimee Hall-Guy, she of the blue hair.
At half time Tony invited Lewis, Matt and me to see the physio room. “You don’t get this at Gosport Borough,” Lewis said to me as we went in. The walls were festooned with photos of Portchy players past and present, the odd pennant, graphic drawings of players produced by Lewis, and a Pompey flag. I was delighted to see a team photo of the Portchester Ladies up there.
Sara Hinton and Paula Taylor impressed after the break, Hannah Walker had a great game in defence and Roxy Roberts in goal made several super saves. There was no further score and at the final whistle the players formed a circle and danced around singing ‘Championi’. We applauded them from pitchside. As I began making my way out of the ground, Paula called out to me, I walked to the perimeter fence, and the players all ran over towards me chanting “We love you, we do” and all came up to the fence to shake my hand, as did Mark. Another vindication of my choice of club.
Thursday was my birthday. Got the book I asked for from the parents and choc treats or cash from everyone else. As we were still having takeaways every day with the lack of electricity, we got a KFC Bargain Bucket in for dinner. That afternoon, the guy finally came, installed our new consumer unit and got us connected again.
Karl and the Moneyfields girls have been good to me this season so I went along to cheer them one more time on Thursday night - funnily enough, back at the Wicor - in the Portsmouth Women’s Cup Final against Pompey Women. Charley said happy birthday when I met her; so did old acquaintance Michelle who was running the line. Chatted to Naomi, Amy and Lucy in the corner behind the goal, waited for Karl to appear and said hello, then headed for the bar.
In the stand, found myself sitting with a couple of girls who’d played for Pompey Ladies about twenty years ago; one of them remembered me. They mused on how far the women’s game has come since their day. Moneyfields created plenty of chances, Beth Burgess having an excellent game, but weren’t able to convert them. In fairness Pompey did have the upper hand much of the game as they won 2-1.
Yesterday my aunts, my pal Jo and family friends Vanessa and Keith came over for birthday cake and a chat. Watched Channel 5’s Eurovision Memorable Moments and Eurovision Secrets and Scandals shows in the late evening.
Finally got my home-made Chicken Maryland today.
An aunt of mine and a neighbour both agreed to keep some of our cold food in freezer storage; we used the fridge in my workplace to keep some more. We dug out a battery operated radio for entertainment, and some torches to find our way around at night time.
So Sunday afternoon was a good time to get out of the house and head for AFC Portchester Ladies’ away game at QK Southampton. Lewis and Matt came along to this one and we put the Arancione flags up behind the goal. Lewis was delighted with my return to the Arancione fold. I’d been thinking during my enforced lay-off the previous weekend with excruciating gout, and decided that Portchy was the place for me, with the camaraderie, singing and dancing of the fan group. Mark was made up to see me, and Stacy came over to the perimeter fence during a lull in the pre-match warm-up for a hug. Lewis and Matt hadn’t been to the ground before and were very impressed with the shipping container converted into a bar, where a friendly guy sold Peroni beer, soft drinks, crisps and chocolate. We all sang and shouted the girls on and they won 4-1 to keep up their challenge for the league title.
Tuesday went up to Horndean to see the Portchester men in the Portsmouth Cup semi-final. The food menu at the tea hut was excellent, my Southern Fried chicken in a brioche bun and, at half time, Footlong hot dog were first class.
Lewis and Matt didn’t make this one but I found a group of Portchy fans who knew me in the front row of the little stand. We were hoping the lads would get a measure of revenge on Horndean, who’d staged a late season surge to snatch the Wessex League title while Portchy, who’d been top of the league all season, had suffered an end of season collapse and ended up fourth. Across the course of the match we picked the bones of the campaign just finished and speculated on what would happen for next season. One of the chaps kept up a stream of exchanging banter with a kid in a Horndean shirt. Portchy, alas, failed to convert their chances while Horndean netted a goal in each half. We glumly mused on how we might pass the summer - one of the guys is a member at Hampshire County Cricket Club - and said “see you in July”. For me there was then the half hour wait for the bus back to Portsmouth.
Wednesday I returned to the Wicor for the first time since New Year. AFC Portchester Ladies were facing Bournemouth Sports Ladies, in a six-pointer in the race for the title. Word went round the ground that we’d apparently had it confirmed that we’d be getting the three points from a match last month that wasn’t played because the opposition were unable to raise a team. If that were the case, that would mean a win against Bournemouth that evening would confirm Portchester as league champions.
Lewis and Matt showed up for this one and put the flags up pitchside. I stood with them and we were joined by Tony, the men’s team kit man. In between us singing songs and shouting encouragement to the girls, we all talked about goings-on at the club and plans for next season. We speculated on why AFC Portchester are disliked by so many people at other clubs in the Wessex League; we thought likely reasons were that we’re seen as big spenders (though there are other teams in the league with budgets as big); people in charge of the club have openly announced we have ambitions to progress to a higher level; and possibly prejudice against people from the Portsmouth area by those at clubs located in areas that traditionally affiliate with Southampton FC. Such abstract thoughts were dispelled by a magnificent display from the girls, who took an early lead through Aimee Hall-Guy, she of the blue hair.
At half time Tony invited Lewis, Matt and me to see the physio room. “You don’t get this at Gosport Borough,” Lewis said to me as we went in. The walls were festooned with photos of Portchy players past and present, the odd pennant, graphic drawings of players produced by Lewis, and a Pompey flag. I was delighted to see a team photo of the Portchester Ladies up there.
Sara Hinton and Paula Taylor impressed after the break, Hannah Walker had a great game in defence and Roxy Roberts in goal made several super saves. There was no further score and at the final whistle the players formed a circle and danced around singing ‘Championi’. We applauded them from pitchside. As I began making my way out of the ground, Paula called out to me, I walked to the perimeter fence, and the players all ran over towards me chanting “We love you, we do” and all came up to the fence to shake my hand, as did Mark. Another vindication of my choice of club.
Thursday was my birthday. Got the book I asked for from the parents and choc treats or cash from everyone else. As we were still having takeaways every day with the lack of electricity, we got a KFC Bargain Bucket in for dinner. That afternoon, the guy finally came, installed our new consumer unit and got us connected again.
Karl and the Moneyfields girls have been good to me this season so I went along to cheer them one more time on Thursday night - funnily enough, back at the Wicor - in the Portsmouth Women’s Cup Final against Pompey Women. Charley said happy birthday when I met her; so did old acquaintance Michelle who was running the line. Chatted to Naomi, Amy and Lucy in the corner behind the goal, waited for Karl to appear and said hello, then headed for the bar.
In the stand, found myself sitting with a couple of girls who’d played for Pompey Ladies about twenty years ago; one of them remembered me. They mused on how far the women’s game has come since their day. Moneyfields created plenty of chances, Beth Burgess having an excellent game, but weren’t able to convert them. In fairness Pompey did have the upper hand much of the game as they won 2-1.
Yesterday my aunts, my pal Jo and family friends Vanessa and Keith came over for birthday cake and a chat. Watched Channel 5’s Eurovision Memorable Moments and Eurovision Secrets and Scandals shows in the late evening.
Finally got my home-made Chicken Maryland today.
